Hi I have just replaced my Prius hybrid battery there was 1 battery cell that was dead and now there is a P0420 code and then the red triangle with exclamation point is showing, I have no idea what the problem is? Thank you guys really appreciate anyone who can help me solve this problem.
Your catalytic converter has reported It's below this threshold of being proper or it can't clean up what's going through it It's very common in an '07 it's about that time for this to be happening could have started a while ago but oh well I've had a car with this code for the past 5 years and the county I live in in North Carolina I don't have to do anything about it We have no emissions and that's just how I like it and why I moved here
there are a few tubes about how to deal with and possibly fix without having to buy a new cat. informative and easy on the hype.
The first thing I would try is a stainless steel angled spacing affair for $18 this thing swivels puts your bottom O2 sensor out of the direct flow and has a little piece of catalytic converter material in this stainless steel twisty piece It's like what goes on the end of a grease gun to angle the grease gun nozzle except it's big I'm going to screw a O2 sensor in it and the other end has the threads of the O2 sensor that screws into the bung on the side of the pipe. I would try that first and see if getting the O2 sensor out of the direct line of fire of the exhaust pipe nets you the light off If so that's $18 and no sweat 15 minutes to screw it in I have one laying here on the table ready to go in my '09 in which the catalytic converter has been completely removed there's just an upper and lower O2 sensor I'm going to space the bottom one out and see if that nets me the light off If it does that's a quick fix In some places that fitting if it seen by the smog people they'll call you on it and say it has to be removed and other places not so much so it might California this would be a problem Wisconsin maybe not so much In places in California if you know where you're supposed to be going to get inspected like in East LA they won't see anything.
You need a better scan tool to read all the trouble codes, not just the one that you have already found. You probably have additional trouble codes for the hybrid control system in the car that your present scan tool can not detect. Read this tread: https://priuschat.com/index.php?posts/3290690 The Autel AP200 is a good choice, and it costs about $60 at Amazon.
Thank you this tool the newer model that detect the ev battery says it is for Asian cars after 2008 my car is 2007 is that fine
Can I still drive the car with the red triangle of death mileage per gallon are showing up good and no issue with the mileage it is giving the car however I am scared that I replaced the dead cell battery wrong or install the hybrid battery wrong in the car and don't want anything fatal to happen.
we can't tell you if it is safe to drive because the triangle can represent many different things. without the detailed codes and sub codes, we might be putting your (and others) life in danger.
I am not familiar with the AP2500 E. Why not just buy the AP200, which is known to work very well with a gen 2 Prius.
You can drive the car if you need to. It may stop and leave you stranded without any warning, and you would need to get it towed home or to an auto repair shop to get it fixed.
Will do, I will do to auto part tomorrow and get back to which codes are present. Thank you for responding back to me. Appreciate your help